Voluntary Health body hails Assam Police drive on tobacco issue

Guwahati: The Voluntary Health Association of Assam has hailed the pro-active action by the Assam Police to achieve desired result in COTPA (Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act), 2003 enforcement.

In a meeting on Point of Sale Compliance in Assam here today, organized by the VHAA in association with the State Tobacco Control Cell, Health Department officials and experts from civil society, the initiative of Assam Police towards tobacco control despite being preoccupied in curbing crime, was dwelt on.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) CID Mukesh Sahay as a guest speaker presented before the audience police action on PoS compliance and enforcement of COTPA, 2003 in Assam, the release said.

On plea for action on the violation of Section 5 (ban on direct and indirect form of tobacco advertisements) in the state received from the State Tobbaco Control Cell and National Tobacco Control Programme, the ADGP CID's office had directed all district police units to take action against violations of COTPA in the State, it said.

The office also issued letters to tobacco companies to remove all illegal tobacco advertisements violating Section 5 of COTPA, 2003.